Space travel fans who want to see the launch of China's Shenzhou VII shuttle at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center later this month will have to pay 15,000 yuan (US$2,206) for the experience.

The cost includes an air ticket to Jiuquan in northwestern China's Gansu Province and a four-day stay, the Wenhui Daily reported yesterday.

But even if fans can afford the price they will still struggle to get a ticket because there are very few available. People who want to buy these have to provide their ID and a reference from their employers.

The chief engineer of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft launch said the ground work for the mission has been completed and the team was confident of a successful lift-off.

A total of 6,000 staff on the ground team had spent months improving infrastructure and testing the functions of computers and software, said Cui Jijun, commander-in-chief of the ground operation team.

Rare undated photos...

b55erNew Member

Posts: From: Registered:

posted 09-23-2008 12:43 AM
Does anyone know of any internet streaming planned for the launch?

lucspaceMember

Posts: 257From: Hilversum, The NetherlandsRegistered: Oct 2003

posted 09-23-2008 08:23 AM
I created this art of the Shenzhou 7 EVA, as I expect it to look from the small sub-satellite, based on photographic materials. It may be that the brownish 'box' at the front of the spacecraft is the satellite in question, but this still represents a faithful rendition I think.

Robert PearlmanEditor

Posts: 27328From: Houston, TXRegistered: Nov 1999

posted 09-23-2008 02:12 PM

quote:Originally posted by b55er:Does anyone know of any internet streaming planned for the launch?

Though they have not specifically said they will be broadcasting the launch, CCTV International has a live feed available on their website and is now promoting:

From September 25th to 30th, the website will feature China's first-ever spacewalk and many interactive activities.

China launched its third manned spacecraft on Thursday with three astronauts on board to attempt the country's first-ever space walk.

The spaceship Shenzhou-7 blasted off on a Long March II-F carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern Gansu Province at 9:10 p.m. after a breathtaking countdown to another milestone on China's space journey.

Onboard pilots Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng are expected to orbit the earth for 4 days, when one of them will float out of the cabin about 343 kilometers above the earth.

mark plasMember

Posts: 360From: the NetherlandsRegistered: Aug 2000

posted 09-25-2008 08:29 AM
It reminds me of a picture of the Apollo 17 launch.

mmmooMember

Posts: 409From: London, EnglandRegistered: May 2001

posted 09-25-2008 08:29 AM
Live stream in English for mission coverage from CCTV.

posted 09-25-2008 09:09 AM
Any idea where to look for visible pass info? It'd be nice to spot the spacecraft going overhead.

jasonelamMember

Posts: 443From: Monticello, KY USARegistered: Mar 2007

posted 09-25-2008 09:46 AM
I watched the launch on both the live internet stream on CCTV's website and on the Spanish CCTV on Dish Network. Very interesting coverage!

The Spanish CCTV channel introduced their launch coverage kind of like our TV stations used to do with launches. Graphics were actually pretty realistic, and the music was from the end of "E.T.", but very appropriate.

The internet stream was wonderful to watch, especially since it was in english!

The animation of the events that was shown on the screen in mission control seemed like it was from the "Orbiter" space simulation, though it probably wasn't.

PhilipMember

Posts: 4803From: Brussels, BelgiumRegistered: Jan 2001

posted 09-25-2008 11:11 AM
To me it looks like they have much more space in the capsule than in a regular Soyuz where the cosmonauts are packed tighter together.

They might be using a different version of the "Kazbek" Soyuz seat for which each cosmonaut gets his/her fitted liner?

What's your opinion?

Robert PearlmanEditor

Posts: 27328From: Houston, TXRegistered: Nov 1999

posted 09-25-2008 11:28 AM

quote:Originally posted by Philip:To me it looks like they have much more space in the capsule...

If I recall correctly, when the Shenzhou was first unveiled, Chinese officials said it was designed to seat up to five taikonauts, though three-member crews were the nominal mission contingent.

PhilipMember

Posts: 4803From: Brussels, BelgiumRegistered: Jan 2001

posted 09-25-2008 12:41 PM
That's really amazing Robert!

So after 33 years of spaceflight/astronomy enthusiasm I can still learn things... on the other side these Chinese Taikonauts are of course a bit smaller than Caucasian persons.

E2M Lem ManMember

Posts: 793From: Los Angeles CA. USARegistered: Jan 2005

posted 09-25-2008 01:56 PM
We all wish the Chinese mission well. This is quite a fete for only their third outing into orbit. The Soviet Union did a three man flight on their seventh and a walk on their eighth.

The U.S. did Ed White's EVA on the eighth mission and a three man flight on Apollo 7, the 17th American mission.

It is a shame that Alexei Leonov can't be visiting in the control center as he is so ill.

Nutritionists and cooks have prepared 80 foods, from Kung Pao Chicken and deshelled shrimp to frozen dry fruits, for the trio of Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng, according to Chen Bin, who is in charge of food supply to the astronauts.

For vinegar-loving Jing, the seasoning is well at hand, as various seasoning sauces are provided on board. The astronaut is from northern Shanxi Province, where vinegar is a favorite condiment for locals.

The food heater on board has a stronger electricity supply than that on Shenzhou-6 as it is connected to the main power supply, which will make sure their rice can be fully cooked, Chen said.

The foods are kept in retort pouches. "We have tried to make them taste like stir-fried dishes they have on the earth," Chen said.

Also of related note, this is the first Shenzhou with a toilet:

No toilet was on board of the previous two manned spaceships. The men had to wear diapers.

But this time a toilet is set up. The toilet seat is tailor-made to astronauts' figure and it also includes a separate urinal.

hlbjrMember

Posts: 321From: Delray Beach Florida USARegistered: Mar 2006

posted 09-26-2008 06:25 AM
This is a bit disturbing... apparently this article was posted by the official Chinese news agency Xinhua reporting on the success of the mission (including quotes by the taikonauts and mission control) before the mission even launched!!! For me this really calls into question the accuracy of some of what we're being told.

A news story describing a successful launch of China's long-awaited space mission and including detailed dialogue between astronauts launched on the Internet Thursday, hours before the rocket had even left the ground.

The country's official news agency Xinhua posted the article on its Web site Thursday, and remained there for much of the day before it was taken down.

A staffer from the Xinhuanet.com Web site who answered the phone Thursday said the posting of the article was a "technical error" by a technician. The staffer refused to give his name as is common among Chinese officials.

Harvey BrownDelray Beach, FL

jimszMember

Posts: 530From: Registered: Aug 2006

posted 09-26-2008 06:30 AM

quote:Originally posted by hlbjr:For me this really calls into question the accuracy of some of what we're being told.

I just read that story earlier today, it's a bit strange and certainly cause one to question everything about their program.

issman1Member

Posts: 888From: UKRegistered: Apr 2005

posted 09-26-2008 07:13 AM
Fox News infers the mission is being faked. I wouldn't believe anything Fox says anyway. I'm glad Shenzhou 7 is up there but sad it is not going to the ISS. I feel any manned spacecraft should be utilised as a crew transport to and from the ISS.